Pakistan, situated at the crossroads of the Palearctic, Oriental, and Ethiopian zoogeographical regions and characterized by rapid changes in altitude, hosts some of the world’s rarest animals and plants. Its diverse landscapes range from mountainous regions in the north, home to the endangered snow leopard known for its distinctive coat and survival skills, to the southern stretches of the Indus River, where the unique Indus dolphin faces threats from barrage construction. The country’s significant Indus wetlands serve as a crucial habitat for waterfowl along the fourth major global bird migration route, the Indus Flyway.

With its wide variation in rainfall and geomorphology, Pakistan supports a vast array of ecosystems within a relatively compact area, including coastal zones, mangroves, forests, alpine pastures, glaciers, and over 200 significant wetlands, both natural and artificial, along with 19 Ramsar designated sites. These diverse environments contribute to Pakistan’s rich biodiversity, offering habitat to a wide variety of species.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	50.39	151	N/A
Land Management	59	69	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	32	139	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	100	1	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	60	67	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	0	133	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	91	134	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	32	115	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	100	1	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	60	117	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	86	100	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	54	91	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	62	157	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	79	109	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	31	85	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	31	19	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	95	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	98	56	N/A
Capacity and Governance	52	161	N/A
Total Management Cost	98	70	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	29	146	N/A
Conservation Legislation	31	134	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	10	161	N/A
Control of Corruption	34	131	N/A
Government Effectiveness	38	118	N/A
Future Trends	30	150	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	30	150	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Pakistan has made notable strides towards meeting the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. These achievements include establishing a protected areas system covering over 10% of the country’s area, encompassing various habitats and ecosystems. While Pakistan has designated numerous national parks, game sanctuaries, and reserves, a review found that many did not meet international criteria, with some primarily aimed at controlling hunting. Additionally, botanical gardens and herbaria have been set up for ex situ conservation, and management of several national parks now integrates with broader landscapes, involving local communities in planning.

Although there hasn’t been a comprehensive assessment of protected areas’ biodiversity status and management effectiveness, efforts by local communities and conservation NGOs have reportedly improved the conservation status of certain endangered species, notably ungulates, endemic reptiles, brown bears, and black bears, particularly in areas managed for trophy hunting.

Threats to Biodiversity

Several activities are contributing to the loss of biodiversity in Pakistan, including deforestation, grazing, soil erosion, water diversion, hunting, overexploitation of plants, intensified agriculture, pollution, the introduction of invasive species, and climate change. The diversion of water for irrigation has particularly affected mangrove and riparian ecosystems. Hunting has heavily impacted the country’s game birds and animals, while fisheries face challenges from declining fish populations due to overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change effects.

Agrobiodiversity has suffered from soil degradation, waterlogging, salinization, intensified production methods, the introduction of new crop varieties, and increased use of agrochemicals. Lastly, pollution from untreated sewage and industrial waste disposal poses significant threats to aquatic and marine biodiversity.

Capacity and Governance

Pakistan has prioritized biodiversity conservation through various policies and strategies, including the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in 1999 and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2017-2030, aligned with international targets and sustainable development goals. Efforts have integrated biodiversity concerns into policies like the National Climate Change Policy (2012) and the National Forest Policy (2015), emphasizing forest protection and sustainable agriculture.

However, addressing poverty requires long-term sustainable management practices. Pakistan has also established a legislative framework, including the Pakistan Trade Control of Fauna and Flora Act, 2012, to protect and conserve biodiversity at both national and sub-national levels.

Future Trends

Pakistan has witnessed significant advancements in natural capital management, notably through the implementation of the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (TBTTP) aimed at forest restoration, community engagement, and green job creation. Additionally, the establishment of an Ecosystem Restoration Fund and plans for a “Debt for Nature” swap scheme highlight the country’s commitment to nature-based solutions and biodiversity conservation. The government’s ‘Protected Area Initiative’ aims to expand protected areas coverage and achieve global recognition for selected national parks, while a dedicated program focuses on protecting the snow leopard and its habitat, emphasizing integrated landscape management and community involvement.

Biodiversity

Pakistan, located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, boasts a rich and varied biodiversity due to its diverse landscapes and climatic conditions. Its northern regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are not just home to some of the world’s highest mountains, including K2, the second-highest peak on Earth. They are also the last refuge for unique high-altitude flora and fauna. However, these species, such as the snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, and Marco Polo sheep, are under threat due to climate change and human activities. The rich biodiversity of these regions, including various species of alpine plants, coniferous forests, and endemic flowers, is also at risk. It’s crucial to understand the importance of these regions and the need for conservation.

The Indus River Basin, encompassing the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, is a vital ecological region. The river supports diverse wetlands and floodplains that provide habitats for numerous species of birds, fish, and mammals. The Indus River Dolphin, an endangered species, is found exclusively in the Indus River. The riverine forests along the Indus are home to species like the hog deer, wild boar, and various bird species, including the migratory Siberian crane and flamingo.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Pakistan only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	202 (#59)	25	12.4%	3	1.5%
Birds	611 (#52)	31	5.1%
Reptiles	214 (#44)	12	5.6%	30	14.0%
Amphibians	24 (#88)			3	12.5%
Fishes	724 (#80)	92	12.7%	31	4.3%
Plants	5,297 (#63)	12	0.2%	21	0.4%